Multiconductor belt and connector

ABSTRACT

An electrical cable and a receptacle connector into which the cable is plugged. The cable is in the form of a belt, with the insulation on both sides readily removable for access to the conductor contact surfaces. The connector is provided with a releasable clamping means for securing the belt in the connector.

United States Patent Doughty 1 'Mar. 28, 1972 MULTICONDUCTOR BELT AND CONNECTOR Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

us. 01. ..s39/17 r, 174/1 17 F, 339/176 MF ..H05k 1/00 Field ofSearch ..339/l7R, 17 F, 17 1., 95,97,

339/99, 176 MP, 176 MP, 196 M; 174/117 R, 117 F, 117FF, 117A Int. Cl.

Frederic C. Doughty, Valley Forge, Pa.

Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

Dec. 21, 1970 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Coleman et al ..339/l7 F 3,004,237 10/1961 Cole et a]. ..339/I76 MP 3,275,968 9/1966 McCaughey.. ..339/l7 F X 3,239,916 3/1966 Love ..l74/1l7 FF 3,573,719 4/1971 Lightner .339/196 M Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis Attorney-Paul W. Fish, Edward J. Feeney, Jr. and Charles S. Hall [57] ABSTRACT An electrical cable and a receptacle connector into which the cable is plugged. The cable is in the form of a belt, with the insulation on both sides readily removable for access to the conductor contact surfaces. The connector is provided with a releasable clamping means for securing the belt in the connector.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTmmza 1912 INVENTOR. FREDERlC C. DOUGHTY BY is n 26 ATTORNFY MULTICONDUCTOR BELT AND CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to electrical conductors and connectors and particularly to a multiconductor cable or belt and receptacle connector. While not limited thereto, the invention finds special application for making electrical connections in the cabinets and between the cabinets of computing systems.

Multiconductor cables for computing systems, for example, generally contain a large number of densely packed, miniature diameter wire conductors which are both difficult to separate at their end regions and difficult to route to their connecting points. Moreover, an inexpensive method of separating the conductors in a desired order and terminating them to some form of connector is not presently known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a multiconductor belt and connector which avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiconductor belt whose conductors can readily be exposed for connection purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mu]- ticonductor belt in which exposed conductors are protected against undesired contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiconductor belt whose conductors do not have to be separated from the belt, either for connection or for any other purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle connector for a multiconductor belt, with means for securing the belt against withdrawal.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a multiconductor belt construction in which the belt will readily lie substantially flat for ease in handling, and with minimum tension in the belt.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiconductor belt and connector which are simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

In accordance with the above objects and considered first in one of its broader aspects, a multiconductor belt according to the invention may comprise a strip of electrical insulating material provided with spaced elongate ridges on both sides. Each of certain ridges on each side is opposite a space between adjacent ridges on the other side. A plurality of elongate conductors are provided, with each conductor partially embedded along its length in the strip near the medial portion of an associated one of the ridges and with its exposed portion along its length extending into the space opposite its associated ridge.

The invention will be more clearly understood when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which is described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view ofa multiconductor belt constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with certain insulation omitted to more clearly reveal other parts.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of an assembly of the multiconductor belt and a connector according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning to the drawing, the invention comprises a multiconductor belt and a receptacle connector 12 for receiving and releasably securing an end portion of the belt 10.

The belt 10 comprises an elongate strip 14 (FIG. 2) of electrical insulating material provided with spaced elongate ridges 16 on both sides and end ridges l6e on one side. The belt 10 is provided with a plurality of elongate conductors 18, each partially embedded along its length in the strip 14 near the medial portion of one of the ridges 16, and with its exposed portion along its length extending into the space opposite its associated ridge 16. Both sides 15 and 17 of the strip 14 are covered with individual ones of electrical insulating adhesive tapes 20 and 22 (FIG. 1) which are adhesively bonded to the sides 15 and 17 of the strip 14 so as to cover and protect the conductors 18 against undesirable contact. The conductors 18 are further protected against undesirable contact by having their elongate exposed portions below the adjacent outside surfaces 15 or 17 of the strip 14.

The connector 12 (FIG. 4) comprises a contact support portion 24, a group of contacts 26 mounted in the contact support 24, and a releasable clamping means 28 connected to the contact support 24 by means of a foot 30. The releasable clamping means 28 is outboard of the contact support 24 and may take any desirable form. For purposes of illustration, the releasable clamping means 28 has been shown to comprise a base portion 32, a clamping strap 34, and clamping screws 36 which extend through openings, not shown, in the strap 34 and are tightened in threaded holes, not shown, in the base portion 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the contacts 26 are staggered and arranged in two horizontal rows, so that either horizontal row of contacts 26 makes contact with alternate conductors 18. The contacts 26 are provided with terminals 26: (FIG. 4) which, in one mode of connection, may receive the margin of a printed circuit board therebetween and be connected to conductors thereon.

The multiconductor belt 10 is initially plugged into the connector 12 by first having an end portion of its conductors l8 exposed, as' by peeling back, or removing entirely, an appropriate length of the electrical insulating adhesive tapes 20 and 22. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a portion of the tapes 20 and 22 is removed, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, so as to expose an end portion l8e of the conductors 18. When the end portion 18c of the conductors 18 is thus suitably exposed, the clamping screws 36 are loosened and the belt 10 is plugged into the connector 12 by sliding its end portion between the base 32 and clamping strap 34 until the conductor ends 18c make the desired degree of contact with the contacts 26 and extend into the connector 12 the required distance. The clamping screws 36 are then tightened against the clamping strap 34 to an extent suitable to prevent the multiconductor belt 10 from being withdrawn from the connector 12.

I claim:

1. A multiconductor belt comprising a strip of electrical insulating material provided with spaced elongate ridges on both sides, each of certain ridges on each side opposite a space between adjacent ridges on the other side, and a plurality of elongate conductors each partially embedded along its length in the strip near the medial portion of an associated one of said ridges with its exposed portion along said length extending into the space opposite its associated ridge.

2. A multiconductor belt according to claim 1 wherein said exposed portion of each conductor is below the adjacent side of said strip.

3. A multiconductor belt according to claim 2 including electrical insulating tape removably adhesively bonded to each side of said strip and covering the exposed portions of said conductors.

4. The combination of a multiconductor belt according to claim 3 and a receptacle connector containing an end of said belt from which the tape has been removed, said connector comprising two rows of spaced contacts, each contact of each row opposite a space between adjacent contacts of the other row and in contact with one of said conductors, and means releasably clamping said belt to prevent its removal from said connector. 

1. A multiconductor belt comprising a strip of electrical insulating material provided with spaced elongate ridges on both sides, each of certain ridges on each side opposite a space between adjacent ridges on the other side, and a plurality of elongate conductors each partially embedded along its length in the strip near the medial portion of an associated one of said ridges with its exposed portion along said length extending into the space opposite its associated ridge.
 2. A multiconductor belt according to claim 1 wherein said exposed portion of each conductor is below the adjacent side of said strip.
 3. A multiconductor belt according to claim 2 including electrical insulating tape removably adhesively bonded to each side of said strip and covering the exposed portions of said conductors.
 4. The combination of a multiconductor belt according to claim 3 and a receptacle connector containing an end of said belt from which the tape has been removed, said connector comprising two rows of spaced contacts, each contact of each row opposite a space between adjacent contacts of the other row and in contact with one of said conductors, and means releasably clamping said belt to prevent its removal from said connector. 